Passover in coronavirus times: ‘Freeing our minds’

This Passover will be unforgettable for all of us, and not for the best reasons. The coronavirus forced all of us to have a different seder, without our extended family and confined in our house. Ironically, this happens during the celebration of our freedom from Egypt. But, we can take this crisis and transform it into an opportunity and use this time to “free our minds.” So in this blog, I will present you with some options to learn new skills and new things that will help you to expand your knowledge.

One of the ways I founded to stay updated is through online courses. Today, the most prestigious universities in the world opened their gates and offer classes that allow you to learn new abilities and skills. Most of the courses are free to audit, but if you want a certificate, you need to pay. Among the sites, we kind find Coursera and Edx. However, there is another option: the Israeli Government launched campus.gov.il, a free online course platform to learn from the best local universities.

Another alternative is Jolt, an Israeli startup that focuses on education for the 21-century. In normal days, 14 people meet in one of the Jolt Rooms (in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and London) and learn via videoconference about multiple topics as data visualization, marketing, negotiation, storytelling and more. It is a great way to network with great people and learn valuable lessons from experts in their field. During this time, they are offering all of their courses in remote mode, making it easier for everyone to participate.

I also use this time to listen and learn from multiple webinars. I try to focus mainly on the future of work and the world after the Coronavirus, and I highly recommend it to you too. Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, said that “The Coronavirus Pandemic will forever alter the World Order,” and I believe that it is crucial to be prepared for it.  I also recommend you to learn about topics that are out of your comfort zone.

The world of online learning doesn’t end here. You can listen for a podcast (here is a list of some of my favorites: The greatest game (in Hebrew), Business Casual, Monocle 24 ), or an audiobook. You can also read a book on your computer or even watch a documentary or a historical series on Netflix. The options are endless.

This Passover will be unique. Let’s try to use this time at home to learn new skills and be ready for the after Coronavirus world and enrich our knowledge. Hag Sameaj ve Kasher le culam!